Shaving In a Motel

[Sfbagger]

Just got back from a little road trip and observed something interesting about some modern motels: the lighting in the bathroom can be just terrible! The more expensive the motel, the worse the problem, it seems. My last shave was in an expensive place that had a relatively dark bathroom, in dark colors, with recessed, small fluorescent bulbs. I should have known better, but oh well. This place was not designed for folks who wet shave. Perhaps it wasn't designed for people that shave at all... large mirror, two sinks, very little light. Really, really bad shave.

Next time I'm packing the Norelco, just in case.

Grump.

Jeff

 

[Pebcak]

Pfft, excuses, excuses. Don't blame poor lighting for the poor shave. If I recall correctly we've got members who've posted videos of them shaving blindfolded not to mention the shower shavers.

 

[rushchairman]

you should be able to shave your face in an anti-gravity/sense deprivation chamber using a cheese grater and a tube of chap stick. what kind of man are you?!

 

[California Cajun]

That's a common complaint. Low wattage lighting to save the motel or hotel money.

 

[Mick]

You can always bring in a table lamp from the other room if the sink is large enough to handle it

 

[mgoldmann]

My guess is that the lighting is the result of two factors- economics (reducing the electric bill) and environment (ambiance or mood).
It's interesting you mention this now. I just got back from 4 days in San Diego with my wife. While lighting wasn't an issue where we stayed, I also use disposables as my travel razor of choice. I find them to be relatively mild, and that probably helps reduce problems when shaving in a new environment.

 

[ouch]

I found that the coffee maker makes a nice scuttle.

 

[Shave_Rat]

I found that the coffee maker makes a nice scuttle.

You mean those 4 cup jobs they often have in the rooms? That's freaking brilliant! That one I will keep in mind for sure.

 

[Krona Kruiser]

Shaving in motels/hotels is an odd comfort thing for me. It's a different environment, sometimes you have to make due with what you have, and you get to choose what to take in your travels.
Now the poor lighting. One of my good friends is medically blind but shaves on a daily basis. The DE thing is a little tricky for him but he's found that Sensor Excels work for him. Anyways, he goes by feel. He knows where his sideburns should be and faceturbating for him is imperative to a good shave. We shared a bathroom in college and I was amazed at how smoothly he went about it. So get in tune with your face.

 

[shaveitoff]

Lighting problem solved:

 

[vreddy2000]

You mean those 4 cup jobs they often have in the rooms? That's freaking brilliant! That one I will keep in mind for sure.

noooo!! please don't! I have heard horror stories of whats done with those coffee pots..
washing undies being only one of them..


i think ......... i hope...ouch made a joke there....

 

[5savages]

I just spent 2 nights in a motel this past weekend and though it had poor lighting by the sink, it never occurred to me that it affected my shave at all. It just wasn't a problem. I'm not sure what I would need to see better to get a better shave. The lather was easy to see and the stubborn whiskers were found by rubbing my fingers over my face, not by looking for them.

 

[reboot]

I've been traveling for 36 years on my job. In fact, I'm in a motel room right now. Probably shaved thousands of times in motel rooms. Most rooms have had decent lighting and nearly all have plenty of super-hot water. It's nice to be able to shower for as long as you want, or even shave in the shower.

The coffee makers are okay, but 99% of motel coffee is horrible. May as well use the coffee maker as a scuttle.

 

[Retiredgene]

I hear you but we do what we must to do the DE

I was on vacation in Oregon for 2+weeks this July, staying in 9 different places and I wet shaved in all kinds of rooms and it was an adventure to say the least. While staying in the cabins at Crater Lake NP, I was lathering in a plastic cereal bowl from the cafeteria, combined with that poor light you mention, lousy sink & water situation it certainly was a trip.

Now the coffee maker, NEVER thought of that

Gene

 

[sharpen]

What's putting me off from shaving in motels is using the sink. Some people fill it up with water and splash their face / rinse their blade with that water. But have you thought about how many people puked in that sink? How many different body fluids might have gone in it? Room maids don't have a lot of time to clean up the rooms. I hope sinks are washed thoroughly!

In these cases I use the tap water for everything instead of filling the sink.

 

[luvmysuper]

What's putting me off from shaving in motels is using the sink. Some people fill it up with water and splash their face / rinse their blade with that water. But have you thought about how many people puked in that sink? How many different body fluids might have gone in it? Room maids don't have a lot of time to clean up the rooms. I hope sinks are washed thoroughly!

In these cases I use the tap water for everything instead of filling the sink.

I never had an issue. There's always wash cloths and soap there. I just wet a cloth, soap it up and wipe down the inside of the sink, and rinse it. Good to go, and takes about 2 minutes.

EDIT: The coffee pot, coffee maker reservoir and the basket all get the same treatment because you never know when someone has used it for a scuttle.

 

[prbutterfield]

I travel with a Speick stick and a brush in the travel container I got from Em's. I've found that the Speick face lathers dependably no matter how hard or soft the motel water turns out to be. If I'm checking my bag I take an iKon OSS and Blue Gillette 7 O'clock blades. They are my go to BSS combo. If I'm taking my kit on the plane I carry a Schick cartridge system that still works well with my wet shaving gear.

 

[FL shaver]

And give this up? No way!

I'll be in New Orleans this weekend and part of the fun will be which soaps and creams I take with me. I'm thinking my new tub of 1805!

 

[jmsodpc]

^ i've been using 444 balm lately...i like the stuff....makes any aftershave splash super fantastic.